Holiday Travel Tips 2015

Booking a trip for the holidays? Whether you are visiting family or traveling for recreation, it’s important to make your plans in advance when you are traveling with kids. As a mom of two kids under age six, I realize that traveling across the country can be difficult. Trust me, traveling is hard with a potty trained two year old and an active five year old! While researching this topic, I got advice from parents who have successfully taken their kids on long trips. Check out my tips, and share yours on my Facebook page.

Holiday Travel Tips 2015

1.) Create a role play situation in advance.

Set your expectations, and make them clear, well before you travel. A serious discussion can work well for older kids. For younger kids, try a role play situation. Walk through how to (and how not to) behave in different situations you will encounter during your travels. Kelly Pietrangeli, owner of Project Me for Mothers, created a flight simulation when her kids were going to take their first long distance flight. Pietrangeli created rows of seats in the living room to represent the airplane. The kids practiced how they would sit to find a seating a arrangement that would work for them. Pretending to be on the plane helped the kids understand what they shouldn’t do, like kick the seats in front of them.

Try something similar in your home. Show why certain rules need to be in place, and act out what happens when there aren’t rules. Your kids will learn what to expect during their travels. Take turns showing the right way to do something and the wrong way to do something. Let your kids explain why doing things the wrong way would cause problems.

2.) Pack Entertaining Gear for the Kids.

Bring entertainment for your travels. Some kids are so accustomed to technology that taking it away makes them bored. Engage your kids with technology that will also help them record the vacation. One hot item this year is the Vtech Kidizoom Action Cam/Smart Watch Bundle that you can get from Sam’s Club. With the action cam, you can use it when you arrive at your destination to record important moments, and use it during the trip to record memorable stops on your way.

The smart watch is great during a trip because it comes with a lot of different entertaining features. You can record your voice and add effects, use the watch as a camera/video camera, and play learning games. Also check out the great travel deals from Sam’s Club. Booking a last minute travel arrangement? Use the Deals tab to locate a last minute savings. I found a lot of deals for fun spots to travel during the holidays.

3.) Pack duplicates to prevent sibling rivalry.

The last thing you want to deal with is sibling rivalry on the road. Author Cara Maksimow, owner of Maximize Wellness, recommends having duplicates of small things, like games. My daughters always want the same toys at the same time. I’ve learned to buy two of the toys that matter, like their favorite dolls or technology items. Another thing to bring plenty of is snacks. You don’t want the kids to argue over who gets the better snack, toy, or game. Bring plenty.

4.) Take breaks during your travel.

When kids are in the car too long, they get cranky. Plan stops along your way. I always look at a map in advance to find a few spots that look good to visit. You could also stop at rest stops, and bring comfortable shoes, like these styles from Pediped. While you might be eager to get to your destination, your kids hope to play soon. Bring a frisbee or a ball, and get your kids’ energy out with a quick 15 minute play break.

Where are you traveling this year? Are you making special arrangements to make the trip better for your children? Share in the comments section below.

Disclosure

I received a free item to help inform my writing, but it in no way influenced my opinion!

About The Author

Theresa has been writing since 2010 in magazines and online. Her lifestyle and parenting expertise has been featured in publications, including ShopSmart and Scholastic. She earned an M.Ed in Elementary Education from Vanderbilt as well as a BA in History from Flagler College, and she is a certified teacher.

Great ideas about traveling with the little ones. My grandson is 10 yrs old and we haven’t flown more than about and hour and half. So I guess the test is coming up when it will be almost 3 hours. Since he is a little older, a camera seems a great suggestion. Thanks for the idea.

Hey Hi, Thanks for sharing the tips. I am a Travel blogger and most of the time, I travel along with my husband as I don’t have kids but I do understand that there are so many concerns while traveling with Kids. Hats off to all mommies for managing their kids during travel. 🙂

2 weeks agoby theresa_reviews(Ad) This has been a perfect weekend for exploring with my children! When we go to the local nature conservancy, bringing walkie talkies can be helpful. Everyone enjoys being more independent and being able to check in with each other. To keep the walkie talkies working well for a long walk, I use Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries. Available at @Safeway , these @Energizer batteries are perfect for playing outside because Ultimate Lithium™ AA maintains peak performance, they are 33% lighter vs alkaline batteries, and they are the #1 Longest Lasting AA Battery. When the weather is too nice to stay inside, we can safely adventure outside and

1 month agoby theresa_reviews(Ad) Today on Theresa's Reviews, I'm talking about my past week of trying to say yes and give into new ideas more often. Whether I was saying yes to a dress I don't usually wear or finally doing something for myself, giving my children more time to play outside, or allowing my older daughter to put her booster seat in the third row of the 2018 @hyundaiusa Santa Fe, every opportunity I had not to second guess my choices, not to ask more of others, and not to limit my children's freedom helped make life easier. It's spring after all,

2 weeks agoby theresa_reviews(Ad) Looking for a tasty quick snack? When I make my grandma's traditional Sicilian cannoli filling, I always have some leftover after serving all the shells. My kids love when I take the leftover filling and turn it into a delicious cannoli dip. In seconds you can dip your @ritzcrackers in chocolate for a super simple combination of incredible flavors! All the ingredients are available at @walmart , the perfect place to shop for your quick snacks. RITZ Original Crackers have a classic recipe that is perfect for any pairing. Ready, Set, RITZ! - RITZ in 20 seconds TOPS! . .

(Ad + Giveaway) if you're looking for dolls that teach, check out these brand new baby dolls from @educationalinsights ! While not your typical doll, the Baby Bijoux is anatomically correct and offers a unique learning experience. Both Baby Bijoux and Baby Doux come in different skin tones and ethnicities. Enter a giveaway! I'm giving away one of each doll. To enter: . 1. Follow @theresasreviews and like this photo. 2. Follow @educationalinsights 3. Follow @sammieandgeorgie and subscribe to their YouTube channel (link in bio). 4. Comment below with who you would give the doll to. 5. You can get additional